Can be distinguished from other species of the genus by possessing the following unique combination of characters: presence of distinct secondary rostrum; presence of complete post-oral pouch; body brown with up to 9 thin gold bars, head dorsum dark brown with thin gold reticulate pattern; subopercular groove absent; gill slit vertical; sublacrymal groove present; a truncate snout when viewed dorsally; abdomen without scales; lateral line scales 69-77; pelvic fin just touching anal fin origin, adpressed dorsal fin not overlapping level of anal fin origin (Ref. 57871).